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Topic: No show at Airwaves Portrush 2015 (Read 6417 times)

Having attended today's Airwaves airshow there are a number of points I should like to mention. Generally it was a good show, the highlight being the Vulcan B2 (XH558) and a spirited performance by the Blades aerobatic team. There was a no-show of the Sally-B B17 (these things happen) and the only member of the BBMF to turn up was the Hawker Hurricane. And it is about this last attraction that I want to say something. I was struck by how cautious the performance of the Hurricane was. It was so far from the flightline that it was at times difficult to see. It was like it appeared, flew up and down a few times then cleared off. It was almost begrudging. In fact, I thought that most of the acts were performed further away and higher (including the Red Arrows) than in the past which made me wonder: after the tragic events at Shoreham, were the service performers further restricted in how they flew? If so, why? The Airwaves performances were over water and were already deemed acceptable from a safety point of view, and were not included in the post-Shoreham 'tightening up' of regulations. Did anyone else feel this way about the show? I'd be interested to hear other opinions.

Just on the subject of no shows. What was Sally B's reason for a no show considering she made the long trek up to Prestwick and displayed without a problem ! ... the BBMF Spitfire was tasked to to an eyeball on the Vulcans nose gear so maybe that explains his no show.

The non-RAF jets were performing to a 'blue line' farther out in the bay. I believe this was a result of the CAA restrictions.

If you noticed the Typhoon quite often placed itself over the beach, golf club and possibly some residential areas during its display whereas the Vulcan and Strikemaster didn't cross mainland at all whilst manoeuvring.

The CAA permission for the show stipulated that the Vulcan, Viggen and Strikemaster displayed to a display line across the bay in line with the restrictions introduced as a result of the tragic accident at Shoreham. All other items displayed to the line along the eastern edge of Portrush. This line has height restrictions when overland which all display items complied with. The Hurricane flew a professional and precise display, the military items (apart from the Tutor) have to fly to the 230m line to follow military display regulations where as civilian items can come in closer depending on their speed. The B-17 'Sally B' had a starter motor problem so it could not make all the planned events on Saturday they plan to display at Portrush on Sunday.

I don't think anyone doubted that the Hurricane display was professional and precise. However like the BBMF Spitfire at Newcastle it was brief, repetitive and showed little of the aircraft other than its underside. A missed opportunity to open people's eyes to an aircraft that is always overshadowed; for once it had centre-stage without the Spitfire.

The BBMF fighters have been lacklustre this year compared to their performances in 2014. I'm not looking for aerobatics, just show me the aircraft.

You know something's lacking in a display when a bunch of enthusiasts look at each other and ask 'Is that it? Is he leaving?'. I'll bet the public were even more baffled.

Myself and Mrs AT were at the show both days and thoroughly enjoyed all the displays-it was understandable due to the CAA`s new guidelines that the aircraft were further out from the crowdline.This can be frustrating,but it`s likely the way things are going to be from now on.I suppose it depends very much on where you were watching from as to what sort of view you are going to get,without wanting to state the obvious.

Re the BBMF,the fighters in particular have almost always been displayed in a very gentle way-topside passes are few and far between,but this is all done to preserve the airframe life as much as possible.There was a fascinating supplement in Flypast Magazine a few years ago which was all about the BBMF,the aircraft,the displays,the training etc,and it went into great detail about how and why the aircraft are displayed as they are.The BBMF website likely has more info on this.

Was told years ago by a local who lived there during the war the Americans wanted to turn the bay into a giant harbour and fill in the gaps round the Skerries with concrete to keep U boats outDon't know if true but easy to see why it could be done